K and pH map, CEC and % base saturation map and recommendation maps for lime, MAP, and potash.  For an additional fee you can also receive gypsum, ammonium sulfate, and any other specialty fertilizer recommendations.

     Without a soil analysis within a field, it is basically impossible to establish what a soil requires in order to become productive.  Soil sampling is the process of discovering the available nutrient-supplying capacity in the field’s soil. This information is important because it helps farmers to select the correct amount and type of liming material and fertilizer, which in turn helps them to develop and maintain increased crop production and reach a more productive soil.  Routine soil sampling ensures that the soil is constantly balanced and is not deficient in nutrients.  It is also important for farmers to sample soil in order to determine the baseline soil nutrient status; measure gradual change in soil nutrient status; document soil nutrient management for certification purposes; establish nutrient application recommendations before planting; evaluate the need for liming and pH; avoid soluble salt accumulation or excessive nutrient applications; and develop a plan for likely variable-rate fertilizing within a field. 

     That said, soil sampling helps the farmer to know the type of soil one is dealing with.  Soil type is a classification dependent on average pH reading along with the main particle constituent.  The typical examples of soil type are clay, sand and silt based.  Knowing the soil type is of much value to the farmer since soils tend to vary considerably across areas even within a broad soil type, such as clay.  That is why it is important for farmers to understand the soil type they are working with.  Soil sampling helps to provide a clearer picture of what farming methods are needed.

     Soil sampling has a lot to do with precision farming. Traditionally, agriculture was practiced by performing a specific task, like harvesting and planting, against a predetermined timetable. However, by collecting real-time information on soil, weather, crop maturity, air quality, and even labor and equipment availability and costs, farmers can use predictive analytics to make smarter decisions.  This is called precision agriculture. By applying precision agriculture, control centers gather and process information in real time to assist farmers to make the best choices concerning the planting, fertilizing and harvesting of crops. Precision agriculture is important for optimizing planting, harvesting and distribution.  To produce crops optimally, farmers should understand how to grow those crops in a specific area, taking into consideration a seed’s resistance to local diseases and weather, as well as taking into account the impact on the soil (environmental impact).  More specifically, precision agriculture is related to soil sampling in that the goals of soil sampling are to ascertain the nutrient status of a farm and to offer some level of nutrient inconsistency in a farm. Regarding precision agriculture, soil sampling has similar goals with some modification. Rather than a farm, farmers are concerned with areas within farms (management zones).  They are also concerned with linking trends in soil fertility to other farm properties that are easily measured or predictable. Knowledge of issues affecting soil nutrient levels including topography, soil type, leveling for irrigation, fertilizer management, cropping history, and manure application will help farmers to decide on the most efficient soil sampling approach.  The fundamental rules of soil sampling also apply to precision sampling. A sufficient number of samples must be collected to correctly describe nutrient levels. Samples must be collected to the appropriate depth for accurate nutrient readings.